Tripping over... do I need the vet???

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RedVendetta

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My horse has always been super lazy! He perks up when jumping but the rest of the time is a plod.
Recently he has been pecking on landing very occasionally (once in every 20 jumps or so), and tripping every now and then, especially in walk.
Being the completely paranoid owner that I am, I have trotted him up every day, checked for heat in all his legs, and generally kept an eye on him.... and nothing! He seems sound and it could just be complete paranoia on my part. Slight heat and puffiness once in one leg but not seen it since and he trotted up sound that day after hosing it and putting arnica gel on.
Do I need the vet or is it just the recent hot weather and he's being a bit lazy and not feeling 100%, and tripping up because of it. And he always seems to do it in the warm up or at home, never in the jumping ring, where he seems to come to life! He seems perfectly happy in all other ways and got a 2nd and a 3rd in huge classes yesterday, jumping 3'0 courses? Travelled there fine, no heat in his legs.
He has a long journey on Thursday (3 hours) and 3 days of showjumping and Im worried sick he will go lame!! Aaargh wish I wasnt so paranoid!
 
Sorry, but if you are worried about your horse, I do not understand why you are still jumping him.

Is he due a shoeing?
Does he have long toes?
Could he be dehydrated?
Or it could be that he is a bit under the weather?

My motto is if in doubt, call the vet out.
 
Talk to your farrier. I find mine trips more when he is due to be shod or when the school surface is deeper. I would discuss with your farrier whether different shoes may help. I've known some horses who are prone to tripping if put in natural balance shoes and others who thrive in them. Unlike hb6 I wouldn't worry - I am also a very paranoid mummy and if I didn't work everytime I worried he would be permanently retired!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Sorry, but if you are worried about your horse, I do not understand why you are still jumping him.

Is he due a shoeing?
Does he have long toes?
Could he be dehydrated?
Or it could be that he is a bit under the weather?

My motto is if in doubt, call the vet out.

[/ QUOTE ]

He is not lame, and he is not in any pain from all the things Ive taken into account. I am extremely paranoid and everyone I have asked at the yard says there is nothing wrong with him.
He's just been shod about 10 days and to be honest has started doing it since he's been shod, so maybe it is the farrier I need to speak to.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Talk to your farrier. I find mine trips more when he is due to be shod or when the school surface is deeper. I would discuss with your farrier whether different shoes may help. I've known some horses who are prone to tripping if put in natural balance shoes and others who thrive in them. Unlike hb6 I wouldn't worry - I am also a very paranoid mummy and if I didn't work everytime I worried he would be permanently retired!

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you for your advice. I will speak to my farrier as I was told by his only previous owners that a few years ago he was shod in balancing shoes, so maybe he needs them again now and Ill get them put on next time he is shod. They said he is fine without them but obviously he's not!
 
Sorry, I mis-read your post, I thought he was lame. Sorry.
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Hi,

I would go with the suggestions to speak to your farrier. Sometimes minor changes can make a big difference in this area and you really dont need to be tripping doing reasonable size jumps.

Something else to maybe consider if this doesnt work would be having his feet x-rayed to check the angles of his feet and if they are balanced. I recently learnt that even though a horse can look like it has well balanced feet from the outside this may not actually be the case when x-rayed.

It actually only cost me £100 for the x-rays and I felt it was well worth it.
 
Thanks for the advice guys. Ive spoken to my farrier who said he will come out and check him out, he said because it's been happening since he's been most recently shod, it will probably be something he can sort, and he may need his balancing shoes back on (bad news for my bank balance but I don't like having a tripping horse!!). If that doesn't work I will definitely consider x-rays etc, I want to make sure he is right. And I will move my saddle back to see if that works as he has a huge shoulder so his saddle can be difficult to put on 100% accurately!!
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Thank you
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